In Remembrance of Brennan Maddox Shahan
2007 - 2025I am the mother of Brennan Maddox Shahan. He turned 18 in February of 2025 and he graduated from high school that year.
Brennan was a very unique kid. He was finicky and particular. He had Tourette’s, OCD, and ADHD. He struggled sometimes to speak in new situations and he was fidgety and anxious at times. He was also loving, funny, adventurous, and kind. I received compliments from neighbors and strangers about how kind Brennan was.
Brennan enjoyed cross country and track in high school until he found his real love; the gym. Brennan was smart but in a different way that didn’t always align with cookie cutter curriculum. He did not process the world like everyone else. He was deeply sensitive and drawn to those that needed to be shown kindness. He could be complex and the answers to how to best help him were not always clear.
Brennan also struggled with feeling that he was “too small” and “too thin.” This led him to joining various gyms, but most consistently, the YMCA.
The gym was Brennan’s place. He loved it. If he had to miss a day, he became grumpy (even though we had some equipment at the house). He loved working towards his goals, meeting like-minded people, seeing his progress. He genuinely loved the gym and the people. There were times, before Brennan had a license, that I could not take him to the gym because of work or illness. Despite my objections, he would take his bike or walk, regardless of the weather. I am sure for anyone that saw this, they thought, “Where is that kid’s mom?” I made every attempt to transport him that I could and bought his car as soon as he had his license.
Brennan was a kind soul. He never hesitated in any way to be there for anyone that needed him. He never judged. He never gossiped. If someone asked for information about what was happening with one of his friends, he would say, “that’s not my story to tell.”
Brennan had struggled throughout the years… struggles that never improved with attempts at medication and multiple attempts at counseling. What did help, was working out, his closest friends, and spending time with family. Recently, he had seemed to be doing well. He had a new job, friends, hobbies, and a supportive family.
He loved his car (although he wanted something sportier). He loved anime, and one of my best memories with Brennan was watching Attack on Titan and seeing his excitement when I became excited with the series. He loved the show Friends. He was scared of stinkbugs but would not spiders. He was a creature of comfort. He loved his dogs, Teddy and Duke. He loved donuts. He loved his family and close friends.
On August 23, 2025, in a Giant Eagle parking lot, Brennan took his own life. He had a struggle that day on top of ongoing mental health challenges (that he did not share with family), and in despair, an inconceivable and irreversible decision was made.
I want my son to be remembered for the beautiful, kind, determined person he was. He was a light to many. He was (and is) loved immensely.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and helping to keep my son’s memory and name alive.